Hydrogen peroxide douche generally refers to a combination of peroxide and water that is administered into the vagina using a bottle with a long nozzle. It is used to treat vaginal infections, and is sometimes recommended by natural health professionals for use instead of antibiotics, but it should be heavily diluted with water. Most formulations recommend between one teaspoon (9.9 ml) of 3% hydrogen peroxide per cup (236.5 ml) of water.

The use of a hydrogen peroxide douche is usually recommended in the treatment of a bacterial vaginal infection, also known as bacterial vaginosis. This method can also be used to treat vaginal yeast infections since peroxide has been shown to kill candida, the yeast which causes such infections. The medical community is under debate on how safe and effective this treatment actually is, but many patients and natural health practitioners highly recommend it. It is especially useful if other methods of treatment, namely antibiotic medications or inserted yeast infection creams, have failed to eliminate the infection.

Ad

Patients can make a hydrogen peroxide douche by mixing the peroxide with lukewarm water. This combination is then inserted into a douche bag with a nozzle attached at one end for insertion into the vagina. It is also possible to purchase over the counter douching products to empty out the liquid contents in order to use the bottle and nozzle included with most kits. If this is done, it's important to fully rinse out the existing liquid before douching.

When administering a hydrogen peroxide douche, it is important to do so carefully. Women should slowly insert the nozzle as far as it will go comfortably. The bag or bottle should then be squeezed very slowly with an even pressure so that the liquid flows into the vaginal canal. It is important that air is not forced into the vagina, as this can cause a rare condition known as an air embolism. This is more common in pregnant women and those with certain conditions, and it can be quite serious.

Although using a hydrogen peroxide douche will kill yeast or harmful bacteria, it will also kill the beneficial bacteria found naturally in the vagina. This can sometimes lead to secondary infections if pathogens grow back more quickly than the good bacteria. For that reason, women using this method as well as prescription antibiotics should take a daily probiotic supplement to replenish the vagina with beneficial flora. It is best to choose products designed specifically for feminine health. Many health care providers recommend against douching entirely.

Related wiseGEEK Articles

Discuss this Article

anon967408Post 13

I have dealt with yeast and bv and the doctor kept giving me the creams, antibiotics. This last time was the tenth time this year, and I was fed up. I was so afraid my immune system would suffer from all the antibiotics.

I am now trying the peroxide douche to see if it will help and I am also taking Rephresh probiotics. I have struggled with it for a year and enough is enough. I am taking control of this myself.

I tried the douche last night and I feel so much better. I did it again this morning to be sure and I will see how it goes, but all these pills can't be good for your immune system. Ten times in a year is way too much. I have been with the same man for two years. He went on the treatment as well, and it still did not help, so if this works, I will do it from now on. Just try it. It can't hurt.

For years, I suffered from a very mild form of BV - just a slightly elevated growth of normal bacteria. It was normally so mild that doctors were slow to treat it with antibiotics, but as you would imagine, it drove me crazy!

Finally, my current (awesome) GP realized that my own vaginal environment was chronically alkaline, when it should be acid. This is what was causing the proliferation of extra 'good' bacteria.

At first she prescribed quite an expensive acidic gel (Aci-Jel), which is just a pharmaceutical-grade concentrate of acetic acid (vinegar). After some time using this, I eventually switched to a twice weekly douche of white vinegar and water, boiled to sterilize.

My so-called BV is now a thing of the past, after honestly 20-plus years of suffering and embarrassment!

If you have a long-term problem with mild BV that never goes away, ask your doctor if it could be the alkaline issue.

I've been reading about using H2O2 to kill abnormal cells on my cervix. It recommended hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Use 1/4 cup of 3 percent food grade hydrogen peroxide in two cups of warm water. Hydrogen peroxide can be used once every other week as a douche. Has anyone tried it for this reason? Also, what is the mixture for the baking soda douche? My PH balance has been off and I'm trying to keep it normal by drinking lemon water every day.

I've been researching peroxide and baking soda as treatments for BV for about a week, and I've decided I like these ideas much better than the prescription my OB usually gives me, which only helps for a short time.

I've had issues with BV for over a year, and I'm sick of it, so I'm giving this a try. I'll write back later to let you know how my selected regimen goes (twice a week, alternating between peroxide and baking soda). I figure the peroxide might be better at killing the bacteria, and the baking soda will help more with getting the natural flora balanced again. Wish me luck, and thanks for all the info!

@dautsun - I personally like to try to get rid of problems naturally before going to the doctor, so I don't see anything wrong with this either. However, I have to say, if you do this once, and it doesn't work, then head to the doctor.

It's definitely not a good idea to let problems continue. Doing things naturally is better, but if that doesn't work, you still need to treat the problem.

I don't see anything wrong with trying a method like this if you think you have a vaginal infection. Some women don't have insurance, so a visit to the doctor and then paying for the medication can be costly. By hydrogen peroxide and water and both cheap!

@sunnySkys - I totally agree with you. In fact, I actually have a good friend who learned this lesson the hard way!

She thought she had a bacterial infection, so she used the hydrogen peroxide treatment discussed in the article. It seemed to go away, but then came back about a week later. So she tried the same treatment again! She kept this up for a few months, and then finally went to the doctor.

The doctor told her she'd probably never gotten rid of the infection in the first place and the symptoms were just temporarily masked! The doctor gave her some antibiotics, and she's been fine ever since.

I think if you're having problems "down there" it's a good idea to just head to the doctor. I personally wouldn't want to play around with my health by doing some kid of treatment like this that may or may not be effective.

Post your comments

Please enter the code:

Login

Register

Make changes/additions/deletions to the article below, and one of our editors will publish your suggestions if warranted.

Optional: Explanation of your recommended changes

Thank You!

One of our editors will review your suggestion and make changes if warranted.
Note that depending on the number of suggestions we receive,
this can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days.
Thank you for helping to improve wiseGEEK!